Chlorine is
By Mike Wilson
poison to watersTHE highly publicized arrest of two Hawaii fishermen by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources for "poison fishing" brings into dramatic focus a pervasive, silent genocide being practiced in our waters. These two individuals were arrested for illegally using a poisonous chemical, chlorine, to kill and capture reef fish.
Hawaii's law specifically prohibits the use of chlorine bleach or powder to take marine life, because it indiscriminately kills all marine life that come in contact with the chemical. Chlorine also causes serious damage to the reefs themselves.
Think about this: In an industrial accident, when chlorine gas is released into the air, the public is evacuated from the area affected by the gas because the chlorine irritates people's eyes and burns their lungs.
The same is true when chlorine is used against fish or any marine animal. They breathe the chlorine. Chlorine burns their gills. The animals suffocate, then die.
Additionally, when other fish return to their homes, they are deprived of food items (marine worms, shrimp, crab and other small fishes) that have been killed by the chlorine.
Toxic concentrations of the chlorine tend to linger back in caves and deep holes where circulation is poor, so the deadly effects continue even longer.
Recognizing that chlorine was a very destructive technique to marine life, Hawaii's people banned the use of the chlorine more than 40 years ago by enacting legislation in the 1955 Territorial Legislature.
Yet since that time, some fishermen have continued to use common household bleach and pool chlorine to drive fish from caves and other protective cover to increase their catch, usually for illegal sale.
Chlorine is a potent chemical that is toxic to all marine life. Even in diluted concentrations, it will harm, injure or kill all marine life that it comes in contact with -- including fish, eels, crabs, lobsters, worms, shellfish and mollusks.
When utilized as a systematic, regular, "easy" fish-catching method by even a few individuals over many years, bleaching has a devastating cumulative impact on marine life.
Unfortunately, our department, which enforces fishing laws, cannot be everywhere to check for and prevent illegal fishing activity. Our limited enforcement staff stretches only so far.
Were it not for the efforts of our conservation-minded public, many violations would go unnoticed. The department therefore applauds the conscientious efforts of people who report suspicious or illegal activities.
In this case, such an individual alerted us in time to stop this illegal fishing activity. It is gratifying that someone believed in the future enough to try and protect it.
Chemical poisoning is one of the worst offenses to our marine life, yet some people continue to use it. Fishing with chlorine is so serious that we are seeking the maximum punishment under the law. We also want to introduce legislation this year to add civil penalties, so that we may recover all costs associated with arrests and prosecutions.
Whether it is chlorine or any other illegal method of fishing, destructive techniques need to stop. At a time when fishery resources are dwindling, and more of us depend on it for recreation, sustenance and commercial livelihood, we must be even more vigilant in the wise use of our resources.
The ancient Hawaiians required respect and education before the ocean could be harvested. Now the attitude of "get all I can get now" is leading Hawaii to a future of declining ocean resources.
But things are changing. The public is insisting that effective enforcement take place, and the governor responded with additional enforcement personnel.
Slowly, Hawaii is moving toward a time when our ocean resource treasures are sustained.
Michael D. Wilson is chairman of the state
Board of Land and Natural Resources.